A COVENTRY international development charity has unveiled plans to bring together city businesses and other organisations to help feed 16,000 vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.
Feed The Hungry will mark ‘World Food Day’ on October 16 with The Big Food Pack which will see a shipping container of 285,000 meals to children living below the poverty line in Zimbabwe.
Director of Feed The Hungry, Gwyn Williams, says, “Over the last year, we have seen people from across Coventry and Warwickshire step up and help those most in need locally.
“As a charity, we are acutely aware of the devastating impact Covid continues to have in communities across the world, and even as our own lockdown ends, we are excited to see the local business community engage with Feed The Hungry’s mission to feed vulnerable children across the world.”
Raw dry ingredients, such as rice, soya, lentils and micronutrients, will be put together in meal bags which are then sealed, boxed, palletised and sent by freight to one of Feed the Hungry’s trusted partners around the world.
Teams work together to pack everything needed, but also helps businesses build their social responsibility programmes and camaraderie among staff.
Sarah was part of a team who joined a food packing event in 2019 with Coventry Business Society now volunteers regularly with Feed The Hungry at Coventry Foodbank in her own time.
She said she was so grateful her company signed up to pack food with Feed the Hungry which opened her eyes to the need in the city and wider communities around the world and gave her the chance to give back to those who needed help.
Hunger and food insecurity have increased dramatically in Zimbabwe during Covid with 2.4million people in urban areas struggling to meet their basic food needs.
The need continues to grow as Zimbabwe remains in a severe lockdown.
It is estimated that 38,000 children are currently suffering from acute malnutrition and 4.1milllion children are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance due to food insecurity and other health and safety concerns.
Feed The Hungry partner with the Zimbabwean charity The Joseph Foundation to ensure that food is provided to the children most in need. Food is distributed through schools so the children and young people are also getting an education as well as a hot meal.
Businesses wanting to get involved should visit fth.org.uk/big-food-pack or call 01455 618455.
